''Hydnellum caeruleum'' is an inedible
fungus
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...
found in North America,
Europe, and temperate areas of Asia.
Its common names include blue-green hydnellum, blue spine, blue tooth, and bluish tooth.
The young caps have shades of blue, gray and brown, with light blue near the margin. The stem is orange to brown. The flesh is blue to black in the cap, and red to brownish in the stem. The blue hues tend to fade with age.
''
H. aurantiacum'' is very similar to mature specimens but differs in color. ''
H. suaveolens'' is similar, with mostly blue flesh and odour of anise.
Ecology
''Hydnellum caeruleum'' is
mycorrhizal
A mycorrhiza (from Greek μύκης ', "fungus", and ῥίζα ', "root"; pl. mycorrhizae, mycorrhiza or mycorrhizas) is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant. The term mycorrhiza refers to the role of the fungus in the plan ...
and often found in the
humus
In classical soil science, humus is the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a kind of soil organic matter. It is rich in nutrients and retains moisture in the soil. Humus is the Lati ...
beneath conifer trees.
References
External links
Index Fungorumsynonyms
pictures and more information
description, bioactive compounds and medicinal properties
Inedible fungi
caeruleum
Fungi of Europe
{{Agaricomycetes-stub